Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 62 Part 1.djvu/285

 62 STAT.] 80TH CONG. , 2 D SESS.-CH. 328-MAY 21, 1948 255 and both steam vessels shall be stopped and backed if necessary until signals for passing with safety in accordance with these rules are given, answered, and understood. "RULE NUMBERED 20. When a steam vessel and a sailing vessel are Steam vessel and proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, except sailing vessel when the sailing vessel is overtaking the steam vessel, the steam vessel shall keep out of the way of the sailing vessel. "RULE NUMBERED 21. Every steam vessel, when approaching another Approaching vessel. vessel so as to involve risk of collision, shall slacken her speed, or, if necessary, stop and reverse. "RULE NUMBERED 22. (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in Overtaking vessel. these rules, every vessel, overtaking any other, shall keep out of the way of the overtaken vessel. "Every vessel coming up with another vessel from any direction more than two points abaft her beam shall be deemed to be an over- taking vessel; and no subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these rules, or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel until she is finally past and clear. "As the overtaking vessel cannot always know with certainty whether she is forward of or abaft this direction from the other vessel, she should, if in doubt, assume that she is an overtaking vessel and keep out of the way. "(b) When one steam vessel is overtaking another steam vessel, so as to involve risk of collision, and the overtaking vessel shall desire to pass on the right or starboard side of the other vessel, she shall give, as a signal of such desire, one distinct blast of her whistle, and if the overtaken vessel answers with one blast, shall direct her course to starboard; or if the overtaking vessel shall desire to pass on the left or port side of the other vessel, she shall give as a signal of such desire, two distinct blasts of her whistle and if the overtaken vessel answers with two blasts, shall direct her course to port. However, if the overtaken vessel does not think it is safe for the overtaking vessel to attempt to pass at that time, she shall immediately so signify by giving several short and rapid blasts of her whistle, not less than four, and under no circumstances shall the overtaking vessel attempt to pass until such time as they have reached a point where it can be safely done, and the overtaken vessel shall have signified her willingness by blowing the proper signal, two blasts for the overtaking vessel to pass on the port side, one blast to pass on the starboard side, which signal shall be answered with a similar signal by the overtaking vessel before passing. After an agreement has been reached the overtaken vessel shall in no case attempt to cross the bow or crowd upon the course of the overtaking vessel. "RULE NUMBERED 23. Where by rules 17, 19, 20, and 22 one of two Ante, pp. 253, 254; vessels shall keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, U" pra subject to the qualifications of rule 25. Po, p. z6. "RULE NUMBERED 24. (a) If, when steam vessels are approaching Danger signal to each other either vessel for any reason fails to understand, or regards approaching vessel. as unsafe, the course or intention of the other, the vessel in doubt shall immediately so signify by giving several short and rapid blasts of her whistle, at least four, the danger signal "(b) Whenever a steam vessel, whether ascending or descending, is .veel nearing bend nearing a bend in a channel where, from the height of the banks or i channel other cause, a steam vessel approaching from the other direction cannot be seen for a distance of six hundred yards, such steam vessel, when within six hundred yards of such bend-or if she have a tow projecting ahead, then when the head of such tow is within six hundred yards of the bend-shall give a signal by three distinct blasts of her whistle, which signal shall be answered by a similar signal given by any

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